Portable, high quality planer/ thicknesser

[Cam-H]

Hi,
Sorry to ask a question that's been asked a lot, but after reading a lot of threads I'm still completely confused and undecided. As I need a p/t with pretty specific characteristics I thought I'd ask.

I'm looking for a portable (about 80kg or less ideally) p/t (or separates, which I'd prefer, but there don't seem to be many options) that could live in & around my house while I'm renovating it (will need to be shifted to different rooms). I would love to get the Jet JPT-260, but it's just too heavy and large. Sadly I don't have a garage or a shed.
Going to be using it to prep a lot of stock for a conservatory, windows, furniture, cabinets etc, mostly hardwoods, ideally having about 10" wide planing capacity.

I've been offered a record power pt260 at a decent price, but i'm seriously put off by how fiddly it seems to set up and I'm going to be using it way more than I think it (or I) will handle.

I was looking at the DeWalt D27300, but I've never seen one in person and reviews are almost impossible to find as it's not sold in many countries. What I have read certainly hasn't been entirely positive, but I'm unsure if that's just because it's fair enough to compare it to the Jet or a second hand, car sized Wadkin that're in the same price range. I've had a mostly positive experience with dewalt tools and I was hoping that it would be durable in a fairly hostile environment and at least reasonably effective. Has anybody owned one of the newest versions, are they really flimsy/ annoying? I figured it was designed for people who were going to throw it in the back of a truck, so it'd be built fairly sturdily for it's light weight.

There are a lot of benchtop thicknessers out there that would do a fine job, but I've yet to see a decent portable jointer. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

 

[user22161]

I bought a Record PT260 last week, came complete with 4 wheel jacking mobile base, on autumn/winter price offer. Wheels around with ease and only takes a couple of minutes to change over from planer to thicknesser once used to it. Far better built and more accurate than the Erbaur (and similar clones) it replaces. Also has 5 year guarantee.

 

[Horsee1]

Have used this http://www.alanwadkinstoolstore.co.uk/p ... GwodRswLew making one for a couple of years, ideal for a small space, the feed in and out tables fold up and it takes up minimum space.

Knocked it off the bench once and snapped the winding handle off the top, luckily parts seem to be readily available and it was easily replaced.

 

[JonnyW]

Sorry I can't make any suggestions as I'm not a T/P owner. I have however had my eye on the Record for a while now. I like the ability to move it around - essential for the smaller workshops

I'd be very interested to hear views/opinions and how you get on with it.

Regards

Jonny

 

[colinc]

Hi,

I have a Scheppach HMS260 which has been great for me. It has the sheet metal tables, later ones are cast iron, these are fine and lighter. They come up for sale 2nd fairly often but I think the sheet metal tables put some people off.

I also use an Axminster machine, but it really does not feed as well, I think the rubber rollers on mine are better.

It sits on a wheeled base and is easy to move around. I'd also recommend fitting a digital readout to whatever you buy as these make for much easier use.

Having said that, I would like to have a separate planer for convenience.

Regards,

Colin

 

[RogerS]

Cam-H...can I ask just exactly what you are anticipating using it for? Are you intending to use it for more architectural machining, floorboards and the like or making kitchen cupboards? My reason for asking this is that a few years back I renovated an old black-and-white cottage stripping it right back to the shell. For onsite work I used a small cheap Clark P/T and happily ran oak joists through it etc - and then flogged it at the end. In fact, I also bought a cheap SIP table saw and cross-cut mitre saw and after a couple of years work while working on the place, sold them on eBay for abut £50 less then I paid for them all.

You might like to think that as an alternative plan. Once you've finished your house and have a proper workshop then that might be a better time to think about a better machine? Just a thought.